Apple

Greenpeace slams Apple over “19th-century coal energy”, praises Google

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 17, 2012

Non-governmental environmental organization Greenpeace has taken issue with Apple's $1 billion iCloud data center in North Carolina, accusing the Cupertino company of running a facility that operates on "dirty, 19th-century coal energy".

In addition, Greenpeace wrote in its latest report, Microsoft and Amazon are also running server farms that operate on dirty energy.

The slap in Apple's face came just as we learned the company is building the nation’s largest end-user owned solar energy farm to partially power the iCloud data center.

Young artists and fragrance maker design the Apple unboxing scent

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 17, 2012

That distinctive scent felt upon unwrapping a newly purchased Apple product from its packaging? File this under the you-better-believe-it drawer: a trio of young artists from Australia have created a new fragrance that replicates the smell of a new MacBook Pro.

Based on a few ordinary aroma ingredients from suppliers in the south of France, the fragrance aims to recreate that unique and sexy olfactory experience associated with unboxing a shiny new Apple product.

I don't know about you, but I always stick my nose inside the box immediately upon unwrapping an Apple product (I also flip through magazines backwards and smell the shiny pages, too).

Apple hires United Continental CFO Zane Rowe as new VP of Sales

Cody Lee ∙ April 17, 2012

According to a report from AllThingsD, Apple has just hired United Continental's CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Zane Rowe as its new Vice President of Sales. United Continental is the holding company for United Airlines, one of the world's largest airlines.

It's always interesting when Apple adds a member to its exclusive leadership team. The group of executives is in charge of running the world's largest company (by market cap), and ensuring it stays on top...

Samuel L. Jackson stars in new iPhone 4S commercial

Cody Lee ∙ April 16, 2012

As noted by TheNextWeb, a new iPhone 4S commercial has surfaced starring the popular actor Mr. Samuel L. Jackson. The ad popped up this afternoon during an episode of ESPN's SportsCenter.

What's interesting here is that although the commercial seems to fall in line with previous Apple 4S ads — focus on Siri, production value — it appears that Verizon is behind the spot. Check it out...

The case for a four-inch iPhone with 16:9 display

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 16, 2012

There's no shortage of iPhone mockups these days, a tell-tale indication of the launch date drawing near (we're looking towards a Fall launch). We already told you about one possible iPhone mockup and shared an interesting theory regarding the argument for a four-inch iPhone.

The problem is, the vast majority of artists' renditions depict an iPhone with a blown up display that, however, features the same 3:2 aspect ratio as all iPhone and iPod touch models back to 2007.

So, how about a four-incher with a 16:9 aspect ratio display?

Google’s Brin says Apple is “balkanizing the web”

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Unless I and pretty much every other journalist out there extrapolated the original report, it appears that Google co-founder Sergey Brin has called out Apple and Facebook for running closed platforms that, in his mind, are "balkanizing the web".

Why? Because apps, media and other content served within these ecosystems is not crawlable by the almighty Google search engine. And even though Google's built an empire on other people's content, Google's co-founder calls the latest trends "scary".

Don't laugh, Brin actually realized a pattern his role model Steve Jobs laid out two years ago...

Walmart adopts Apple’s boutique store concept with stylish displays carrying iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Walmart has been selling the new iPad in select stores since the device launched last month. They've also had other Apple products on offer for some time.

Realizing it leaves a lot to be desired, the world's largest retailer is apparently ready to take the shopping experience for its demanding Apple customers to the next level.

Nice-looking photos of stylish Apple displays inside Walmart's store in Arkansas depict a radical departure from the retailer's otherwise dull and poorly maintained shelves carrying electronics.

Akin to a store-within-a-store idea seen at other retailers, the redesigned Apple section would suggest that the mega-retailer is keen on exploring Apple's boutique store concept...

Wall Street thinks Apple sold between 26-44 million iPhones last quarter

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

With Apple's earning release for the past quarter that ended two weeks ago now just eight days away, analysts are running their spreadsheets like crazy, falling over themselves to guesstimate just how many iPhones the company sold.

And as the iPhone lineup accounts for more than half of Apple's revenue, no wonder it's become Apple's most important business metric. AAPL passing the $600 milestone also owes much to the success of the iPhone, as does the company's projected $1 trillion valuation.

It's almost as if Apple's future and fortunes depend solely on the iPhone. With that in mind, seasoned watchers should ask themselves whether Apple can retain its crown of the world's top smartphone maker in the March quarter.

And, is the six-month old iPhone 4S still attractive enough to keep people interested until the fabled iPhone 5 (or whatever it ends up being called) arrives later this year? As always, only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Wall Street has high hopes in Apple's ability to keep the iPhone freight train chugging along...

Rumor: Apple making six million sub-$300 iPad minis for third-quarter launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 27, 2016

According to a new report out of China, Apple is allegedly looking to launch a 7.85-inch iPad model some time in the third quarter of this year. The device is said to be priced between $249 and $299, an obvious effort to compete with Amazon's $199 Kindle Fire that launched last holiday to become by far the most popular Android tablet.

However, the iPad mini is said to be primarily intended to "counter attack" upcoming tablets running Windows 8. If the rumor is true, than the low-cost iPad mini is going after the low-to-mid-end of the tablet market.

But does a miniaturized iPad sound like something Apple would even consider doing?

Apple says new iPad rolling out to 21 additional countries in April

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 16, 2012

Apple this morning announced via a press release that its third-generation iPad will be rolling out to twelve additional countries this coming Friday, April 20. The device will land on store shelves in South Korea, Croatia and ten more countries.

The gizmo is also hitting the markets in Thailand, South Africa and seven additional countries shortly thereafter, the company has confirmed.

Indie Steve Jobs biopic being rushed through production, will it flop?

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 16, 2012

An indie Steve Jobs biopic starring Ashton Kutcher is reportedly being rushed through production, with principal photography scheduled to start next month so that the project could hopefully be ready for a fourth-quarter release.

They are actually hoping to get it out ahead of Sony's upcoming flix about Steve Jobs and Apple, according to the movie's producer.

But does an independent movie starring a comedic actor in a serious role have what it takes to beat a multi-million dollar project, based on Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Apple's co-founder and backed by one of Hollywood's most powerful studios?

Some Apple Stores replacing iPhone 4 models with iPhone 4S

Cody Lee ∙ April 15, 2012

9to5Mac is reporting this weekend that Apple is experiencing "atypical inventory shortages" of white 16GB iPhone 4 replacement units. As a result, it seems like [at least] some iPhone 4 users seeking hardware replacements could be in for a nice surprise.

According to the report, Apple has instructed some of its Apple Store Genius Bars to start replacing problematic white 16GB iPhone 4 models with compatible iPhone 4S units...